Patient died in the United States following controversial neck vein surgery to treat her multiple sclerosis

A Calgary woman has died in the United States following controversial neck vein surgery to treat her multiple sclerosis.

Maralyn Clarke died April 18, shortly after undergoing treatment at Synergy Health Concepts Inc. in Orange County, Calif.

She becomes the second victim of the vein procedure, almost a year after Mahir Mostic of St. Catharines, Ont., died in October 2010 following a similar operation in Costa Rica.

The treatment is based on a procedure developed by Italian Dr. Paolo Zamboni, whose research suggests that multiple sclerosis may be associated with vascular problems.

Clarke, 56, flew to California on April 13 in search of a cure for an illness she had lived with for years.

Her husband, Frank Lamb, said his wife experienced severe headaches, nausea and vomiting a few hours after being discharged and was taken to a nearby hospital. She was taken off life support on April 18.

“I think they discharged her before she could make full recovery,” he said Friday, adding that her blood pressure was still high when she left the facility.

Clarke’s final diagnosis included irreversible brain injury, according to her medical records.

Officials at the Synergy Health Concepts refused to comment on the case, saying state laws prevent them from sharing confidential information regarding their patients.

Because Zamboni’s treatment —— which uses angioplasty or ballooning to open blocked neck veins — is not available in Canada, a number of CCSVI patients have opted for going overseas for treatment.

Since the procedure was first introduced, it has raised heated controversy among physicians as well as in the general public.

Some argue there is a risk of provoking a stroke if the vein surgery is not properly carried out.

Experts say there should be rigorous studies to assess whether the procedure works and is safe.

But those who have already allegedly been victims to the operation will hardly find any solace.

“It’s been tough, very tough,” said Lamb, referring to life since his wife’s death. “And every time somebody else calls, it gets tougher.”

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